Nights and days seemed to be faster than before; it was only three days left for our debutante ball. The mansion tensed up quite a lot; the corridor was always full of dashing maids and shouting butlers. To the dance hall, they ran with brooms and sticks. Mornings and evenings, Nanny would be found in the dance hall, Sophia would lock herself in a study room to hone her prefect dancing skills and my eyes only got a chance to embrace them when designer Ladies from capital arrived with dozens of fabrics in different shades. These days were surely tiring. And lonely.

“Sophia.” I started a voice in this busy dining room where we did nothing but focused on the meat in our plates. “Is there anyone who you would want to have as your dance partner? Anyone in your mind?”

Sophia raised her head from the plate. Her eyes were rolling side to side which made me feel guilty for asking her in the first place. Still, I was curious enough to know for whom she practised her dancing day and night straight.

“Well, you see I don’t have a partner like you so.” she hesitated as she started scratching her fingernails. “I am thinking of asking father to dance with me.”

I almost choked on my meat. “Your father! I mean father?!”

Nervously, she nodded.

“Have you told him?”

Sophia shook her head. Good, he wasn’t even home for like four days and last time I saw him was when Nicholas came over to discuss their business and since then he disappeared like a magician. I felt pathetic for Sophia who had no choice. Well, technically speaking her man of choice was yet to appear. I glanced at Sophia with her face tainted with hopelessness. Quietly she continued her meal. The guilt was stepping down on me. And the silence wasn’t helping me either.

“I guess father will be arriving home soon.” Even a child would not believe me. But she did. Oh, my Sophia.

The day had finally arrived.

Even before the Sun woke up from her chamber, I was already drenched in a warm bath which gave me goosebumps every time a maid touched me to cleanse. With towels greeting me one by one and mountains of gowns scattered across the ground, I sat down in front of a mirror with the help of my trembling legs. A sneeze escaped.

“Don’t rub your nose too hard.” Nanny said as she moved away my hand from nose.

“You two.” she turned to the side. “Prepare for the dress.”

“And you. Take care of powdering on my behalf.” Nanny dashed outside, “I am going to check Lady Sophia.” Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Lady Ophelia.” a young woman with cheerful brown eyes called me. “Please close your eyes.”

It was unbelievable. With playful pink applied to my cheeks and my cracked lips coloured with cherry, I looked like a new person. My silver hair was half tied and gracefully put on my shoulders with not one hair out of the place. The gown: It was the best thing. Light blue with tiny jewels attached to the corners, lighting the room as I swirled. Once could not satisfy me neither twice or thrice; I swayed myself in circle under the vines of chandelier reflecting the light blue.

“Miss, you are so beautiful!”

“Your beauty is so blinding!”

“Dazzling!”

Applause and praises surrounded me along with faces of admiration and joy.

“Lady Ophelia.” a door opened. “It’s time.”

I raised my face and straightened my back. Forcing my lips to curve into a smile as I took a step out of my chamber and inhaling the lavender perfume they had on me deeply, confidence awakened in me. With this pretty gown and even prettier face like Sophia’s, I couldn’t help but bring a knowing grin. Later, the door beside my room creaked open: Sophia’s. Slowly yet gracefully, she debuted. Her sight left me in shambles. Left my mouth open wide enough to fit in the entire cake. We shared same dress, same colour of hair, even similar faces but she was prettier in every way. Light blue dress seemed to sparkle more on her, highlighting her purple eyes. She indeed was the most beautiful in the Empire.Sophia lowered her eyelids and eyelashes fluttered upon seeing me. Corners of her red lips curled up and she smiled till her eyes closed. I returned a shy grin. 

Gasps silenced the hall as footsteps walked in. “Your Grace.” Everyone bowed to our father.

“Father, thank you for blessing us with your presence.” Sophia courtesied politely.

I quickly followed her act but said no words.

“Happy 16th Birthday both of you.” he said. “The crowd must have been waiting for you two. Let’s go.”

“Yes, father.” we replied and quietly followed his steps.

The walk was quiet yet steady; I tried to match his pace while I hid my shallow breaths. The corridor was dimly lit even with the help of moonlight showering across the window panel. I peeked at a window to glance down shiny moving things on the ground and to my surprise, they were carriages. Lining up in endless queue. Looking from top, it almost looked like a gold lane between two gardens.

Footsteps stopped. Father was waiting in front of a door and chatters were leaking beneath the door along with the bright lights. He raised his chin as the door opened and the people inside welcomed us.

“Please welcome the Marquess Eruditean and two lovely maidens: Lady Ophelia Eruditean and Lady Sophia Eruditean.”

The dance hall fell silent and every lady and gentleman standing bowed.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for attending today’s debutante ball of my daughters. Please enjoy.” father roared in a clear and confident voice.

Chatters and laughters followed up after cheers and some ladies came to us to boast about their choice of expensive gifts and flattering our gowns.

“Lady Sophia. I ordered this pearl necklace from another country, and I think it will suit you.”

“Check out my present later, Lady Sophia.”

“Your gown is pretty. Where do you tailor this?”

Lady Sophia, check this. Check that. Meanwhile, I was drowning in a sea of medicinal herbs and potions.

“Miss Ophelia. This herb is only available once a year and it is really effective for coughs and colds.” A middle-aged woman with diamond earrings patted on my shoulders.

“Young Miss Ophelia. This potion specialises in relieving pains and fractures.”

Ting. There was a ring on a wine glass. Everyone shifted their attention to him, and mutters emerged. “The ladies will have the dance with their partners.”

Hastily, father came to us standing in between. Sophia was on his left and me on his right. He offered his left hand to Sophia and gently she accepted.

“Can I entrust you with Ophelia?” Father turned to his right, but his eyes were not on me.

“With her whole life.” same deep and booming voice answered, and my head snapped back too quickly. Nicholas. He was standing right beside my right, and I didn’t notice since when. He smiled as he caught me looking at him while I awkwardly stared into his smile, making me a fool of myself.

“Would you like to dance with me?” Nicholas offered his hand. Like I have a choice. I placed my palm against him, his fingers gently gripped mine and led me to the dance floor.

Cheers and giggles deafened the hall afterwards.